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It all spills out of me. Doesn’t matter now. “I was in New Orleans. And I’m coming home soon. I’m ok. I have a couple of things to do and then I’ll be right home. I’m fine, I promise. You ok?”

And she launches into a ton of gossip from the town. I interrupt her, “Mom. Save it.”

Sal’s hand is on my back as tears slip down my face. I feel so shitty for putting her through all of this. “Mommy, if it’s not life and death, I need to go. Listen carefully. Be safe. I’m sending a good man to look over you. Listen to Boomer. I love you.” I miss her. It’s always been just the two of us. I don’t know who my father is, and she’s never told me. It doesn’t matter to me who he is, never has.

Those five men, my cantankerous uncle included, are the reason I don’t walk around wondering what a good man looks like, acts like. Each of their relationships will forever inform my own. Love, trust, laughter, loyalty, honesty, character, and fun. Sal kisses my forehead, and I knit myself back together.

I look around, and Brick is prepping the room. He puts his gun in the back of his pants and pulls down his tight dark grey v neck t-shirt that matches his eyes. His tattoos blazing down his arm in the sun. Becca moves toward him, and I watch as his hummingbird tattoo wraps around his ‘Hummingbird.’ The colors are a vibrant auburn, gold, and green, like her hair and her eyes.

Brick nods at me. “It’s showtime. Sal needs to get into place long before our company stops by for a visit.”

Sal sees the worry on my face. “He’ll show. He trusted me with his life, and I sure as hell trust him with yours. He’ll be here, and this will fucking work.”

Brick adds, “Do we have a plan B? Something we might all be able to double down on in case it all goes sideways?”

“You. You’re the plan B. Guns blazing. We neutralize Enzo without breaking my sister’s heart. She’s already lost enough.” All I know is whatever money I didn’t get, she did. She moved to Tuscany when he died. I only met her once by accident. Sal kept his worlds separate. It was also the day I met Enzo, and Sal tried to pretend I was nobody.

That was the day Enzo witnessed the only weakness Sal has ever had, me. Brick entered our lives soon after and within six months, there were attempts on my life. My café burned down. And then Sal died. Died but didn’t. Good thing I rebuilt the café only to sell it months later.

The place is closed, but there are hot pots on the counter and crock pots plugged in. There are oysters on ice, and a pitcher of sweet tea on the bar. Lucille made us lunch. I tear into a biscuit and dip it into her homemade Tupelo honey spread. It’s heaven.

“Is there orange in this? Mimosa plant?” My palate almost never fails me. But I know I’m asking a question no one can answer.

Sal takes a bite of my biscuit. “How the fuck should we know?” We laugh as he fixes a plate. Boomer’s outside, and he knows what to look for. I’m so dang grateful for that man.

Sal wipes his mouth, tossing his napkin down. “Damn, that’s a lot of fucking good food. Okay.” He turns to me and lifts my chin. “You got this, beautiful.”

I nod and kisses me somewhere between company appropriate and I want to rip my panties off. There’s a quick nip to my lip, and then he stands. Brick stands as well, positioning his chair in the corner so no one can get behind him. Even though our guest is far from hostile, you never know. Sal is tucking away into Lucille’s office but first places a bug underneath the tray of oyster shells on our table.

The time passes slowly, and I keep whispering to the oyster shells things I want to do to my Salvatore. Finally, he bursts open the door and crooks his finger.

“Put your money where your mouth is, Gingersnap.” I skip over to him.

Becca takes Brick’s hand and the two of them exit. “We’ll check on things around the perimeter for say twenty minutes or so.”

Before the office door is shut, his tongue is sweeping into my mouth, and his hands are on my breasts.

“If you want to come, shut the fuck up.”

“Yes, sir.” His kiss is hard and punishing as if he’s angry at me. I know he’s not. It’s our worry and fear mixing together into a lustful cocktail, and I know he needs the release as badly as I do. Despite having sex several times last night, we’re both coiled tight. He holds me fast to him as he sits down. I don’t care what people think, I have lost time to make up for.

I tug at his ear and he growls. “Little Miss, we don’t--” I cut off his words by jamming my tongue into his throat. And then I slither down his body to satisfy this intense craving. I unzip and grab hold of him before he can stop me.

I look up at him, “Better be quiet, if you want to come.”

“Cuz that’s an option with my wife on her knees.” I lick the tip and he bites his lip. I tease his shaft, and then I suck up all that’s leaking for me. He’s so hard and big it’s hard to get my mouth around him. My hand works what I can’t swallow, certainly not at this angle. His cock is slick with my spit. I pop off and stroke him hard.

I lick my lips, “I missed this.”

“I can’t speak. Just suck my cock, and we can talk all about how good I taste later.” He grabs the back of my head, guiding me back to his dick. I moan at the possession. I deep throat him as much as possible before he takes over fucking my mouth.

“Fuck. Fuck,” he mutters. “I’m going to fucking come down that throat. I’m going to reclaim this mouth.” He pulls my hair. It hurts so good, making my pussy clenches. My eyes are watering as I take him deeper. I reach up to tug on his balls, and he groans.

“Not fucking fair. You’re perfect, like this. Taking my cock like a good girl. Fuck, just like that.” He thrusts up a couple more times, then he floods my mouth. The grip on my head loosens, and he stops thrusting as he pours down my throat. I lick him clean, swallowing every damn drop. I sit back on my heels and wipe my mouth. He pulls me quickly onto his lap. He kisses me with everything he has and tastes himself. I lean to the side to deepen the kiss. We’re thrashing back and forth, our teeth clattering together. His hand finds its way inside my leggings, and I spread my legs. He groans into my mouth as my nipples draw into my bra as he discovers how wet I am for him.

“Gingersnap. Coat my hand, baby. I’ll take care of this. Fuck, so goddamned perfect.” He slips his giant fingers easily into my waiting pussy. “Come fast. Come now for me. Make a mess on my hand, now.” I move forward riding his hands as his finger probes deep inside of me, and I’m gone in an instant. I hold on as he lifts me up, angling me back with that powerful hand. I am at his mercy, three fingers inside of me, thumb on my clit. It coils so fucking deep like I can’t imagine coming this hard and fast. Just as I’m about to snap he lowers me, pressing down on my clit hard and stifles my loud moan with a searing kiss. I come long and hard, shaking around him. When the pleasure tremors subside he’s still holding onto me.

“Mine.” He removes his hand and licks it clean. I slump onto his shoulder and sigh.